WAR IN SPAIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22543, 7 October 1936, Page 13

WAR IN SPAIN

NAVAL CHALLENGE THREAT TO MALAGA TROOPS PROM MOROCCO THE TOLEDO SECTOR FIGHTING CONTINUES By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, Oct. 5 The Spanish Government's naval 'division, on arriving at Santander, challenged the rebels "to come out and fight or surrender, otherwise we will destroy you all." Reports from Gibraltar state that the rebels are continuing elaborate preparations for an attack on Malaga, on the south coast, by air, land and sea. About 16 000 troops have been transported by air and sea from Morocco in the last 10 days, and tho attack is expected this week. Tlu situation in the citv is desperate and food is scarcfl Fighting continues south and east of Toledo. non-intervention LABOUR PARTY'S SUPPORT RESOLUTION AT CONFERENCE British Wireless RUGBY, Oct. 5 The Labour Party's conference at Edinburgh supported the policy of nonintervention /in Spain by a huge majority. Mr. Arthur Greenwood reminded the delegates that tho ncn-intervention policy in Spain was o:;e which the Socialist head of the Fiont l'opulaire Government in France, M. Blum, had initiated. The policy had also received the support of Soviet I ussia. It had become the united opinion of Europe, Socialist and non-idealist, said Mr. Greenwood, that npn-intervention was a real way put of a very grave situation. WAR-TIME IN MADRID «? AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS CITIZENS* ENTHUSIASM - A recent communication from the staff correspondent of the British United Press in Madrid gives impressions of life in the threatened city. The air raids are among the biggest even :s in Madrid's life nowadays, he says. Immediately they are signalled everybody who has a cellar makes a dash for it. The writer, says that part of the life of Madrid is strangely normal; in other ways, it is far from normal. Girls of nil ages, armed with collecting boxes, are collecting coppers from passers-by for the wounded, and for the '.rar orphans. Posters announcing benefit performances in aid oF the wounded and the militia are on the hoardings. There are no taxis, as all drivers are at the front or are driving army vehicles in Madrid. But the trams are running normally. Double-decker buses are also absent from the streets. They have been turned into fimbulances. The bars, cafes, cinemas, theatres and clubs are either cksed or "managed" by workers' organisations. Militia men can be seen on the; cafe terraces dressed in blue overalls and wearing forage caps. ?They proucly show their friends their newly-acquired rifles and revolvers. Churches as Barracks Motor-cars dash through the streets, most of them painted with the signs C.N.T. (National Confederation of Labour); U.G.T. (General Union of Workers), or F.A.I. (Iberian Anarchists' Federation). Otters carry the "hammer and sickle" sign of the Communists. The churches have been turned into barracks, militia headquarters and hospitals. The famous Casino Club is now occupied by armed militia.

In the streets are children known as I'ioneros. They desigi hammer and sickle symbols with sand, cement, water and paint, on the pavements. These are then roped-off and monsv is collected from passers-by, again for the hospitals. The word "Adioii" (good-bye), which means "To God,'' has been replaced by the word "Salud," which means "Health." There has been a general discarding of ties, tvell-cut suits, and shoes in Madrid. Their place has been taken by overalls and rope-soled beach sandals.

There is an atmosphere of enthusiasm and determination in tho streets. Frequent processions of Socialists, Communists, Syndicalists or militia are seen. The processionists shout constantly, "They shall not pass," the old Verdun battle cry of the French. The militia try to be courteous and helpful in the streets, especially to foreigners. There is a general observance of tho early-to-hed rule in Madrid, owing to the air raids. In the cinemas and theatres are nearly empty late at night. All foreigners in the strpets have flags on their arms, or a small flag in the coat lapel, denoting their nationality. Air Raid Precautions At night trams and motor-cars travel with blue or green lights, so that they shall not betray tho topography of the roads in and around Madrid to raiding aeroplanes. The favourite pastime of wireless listeners is trying to pick up the rebel stations, especially Seville, where General Queipo do Llano's broadcasts have made him famous. Ilis voice always; comes over tho air very thick and friity, and the Madrid militia allege that he gets intoxicated before ho goes on the air. The city is not too well supplied with meat, Great lorries, bearing such signs' as "Valencia to Madrid : Long Live the Republic," come in from eastern Spain, carrying foodstuffs. Long lines of lorries move through the streets between cheering crowds, who salute them with clenched lists. Each lorry has two, sometimes three or four, bearded workers, each carrying a rifle, and bears the name of a town or a village which is sending the food inside to Madrid ftnd the front line.